Source device and method for controlling output to sink device according to each content

Abstract

A source device and a method are provided for certifying and controlling A / V signals output from an A / V device through an output terminal of a digital visual interface (DVI) or a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), using Digital Rights Management (DRM). The source device includes: a DRM module which decrypts encrypted multimedia contents included in DRM contents through certification of a source device, and generates a control message for controlling digital A / V channels connected between the source device and a sink device based on a DRM rule; an input controller which certifies A / V data input from a media decrypter, and outputs A / V data filtered according to a certifying result; an input interface which converts the filtered A / V data into pixel data and audio data; and a signal transmitter which encrypts and converts the pixel and audio data into high-speed serial digital A / V signals to be transmitted to the sink device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0023774 filed on Apr. 7, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to digital rights management (DRM), and more particularly to certifying and controlling audio / video (A / V) signals which are output from an A / V device through an output terminal of a digital visual interface (DVI) or a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), using DRM, wherein A / V signals are output according to a DRM rule of contents through certification of a relevant receiving device. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] A conventional DRM technique encrypts contents so that only source devices having a license of the contents may play the contents. Another convent...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0035] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method which makes it possible for a content provider to differentially control each of sink devices by employing the DRM technology.

[0036] In addition, still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method which can flexibly control sink devices, for example, cut off transmission or transmit only a part of signals, by differentiating data transmissions from a source device to the sink devices according to the respective sink devices using the DVI and the HDMI.

Problems solved by technology

However, digital contents require a high cost, a great effort, and a long period of time to be manufactured.

Therefore, if it is permitted to copy and distribute digital contents without permission, benefits of digital content manufacturers are infringed, thus depressing the creative will of digital content manufacturers and functioning as a large impeding factor in stimulating the digital content industry.

Therefore, users which have paid can access digital contents which are not encrypted, but other users which have not paid cannot access such digital contents.

However, if the users which have paid for access to the digital contents intentionally distribute the digital contents to a third person who has not paid for access to the digital contents, there is no way to prevent the third person from using the digital contents.

A sink device including no descrambler cannot obtain desired video or audio data from the source device, because either the source device blocks the transmission of the A / V signal to the sink device, or the sink device cannot decrypt the encrypted A / V signals although the A / V signals are transmitted to the sink device.

However, the conventional DRM technology does not provide any method of enabling a content provider to certify and control that a sink device receives an A / V signal transmitted from a source device having a legal right.

Also, according to the conventional DRM method, it is impossible to control that data are transmitted to a source device although the data are contents in which the DRM rule is applied, so that it is difficult to differentially control each of the sink devices, and it is impossible to prevent illegal copying of A / V data output through a sink device.

However, such certification and control is performed regardless of the kind of contents, so that the conventional techniques cannot provide a certification function according to contents, such as giving certification of permitting the display of multimedia to a sink device according to contents, or as restricting some functions of a sink device according to contents.

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